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Manchester United aren't ready for Champions League challenge - Hargreaves

The former midfielder, who won the competition in 2008, does not expect Louis van Gaal’s men to succeed in Europe next season, and has urged caution over a spending spree.

Updated at 18.00

OWEN HARGREAVES EXPECTS former club Manchester United to struggle in the Champions League next season, as there is a gulf in class to the competition’s elite sides.

Louis van Gaal guided United back to Europe’s elite club competition in 2014-15 as the club finished fourth, a year on from their seventh-placed finish and the ill-fated tenure of David Moyes.

United are expected to embark on a spending spree this summer, with Memphis Depay already acquired, as they seek to challenge both domestically and in Europe, but Hargreaves has dismissed any chances of the club winning the competition.

“I don’t think Manchester United are ready to compete for a Champions League title,” the former midfielder, who was a member of the Champions League winning 2008 squad, said.

“If you look at Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Barcelona — realistically I don’t think they are.

“I’m sure the fans would love to get back to those days when they were in the Champions League semi-finals virtually every year and not only winning the league, but winning it beautifully as well.”

He added: “As excited as you are that there is £200 million to spend potentially, I am still not 100 per cent sure how the team is going to look. Chelsea is by far the best team in the country.

“They can go and get players that they specifically need. I think Manchester United need quite a lot.”

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